“Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often”

~ Mark Twain

I totally agree with you, Stefan!

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A long-standing classic in the field of self-help, this book is a must read for anyone interested in bettering themselves.

The human mind is more powerful than most people know and this book provides readers with a major key in teaching us how to use it properly.

Thoughts are what truly control your life, and this book can well be considered a kind of “owner’s manual” for the mind.

The teachings are simple but powerful. Chapters include Thought and Character, Effect of Thought on Circumstances, Effect of Thought on Health and the Body, Thought and Purpose, The Thought-Factor in Achievement, Visions and Ideals, and Serenity.

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It is natural to be lazy – something that most of us can attest to.  Once we are set free from the womb we immediately wish to submerge ourselves in sleep.

Upon reaching adulthood we long to be totally at leisure, as it brings with it pleasure, because we are completely free from responsibility.  This freedom relieves stress and brings us back to our childhood of joyful play.

If we could choose, we would bite off the hand of procrastination whenever we get the chance because we seem to think that being lazy at the best of times brings with it impunity.

Not to say that being lazy is an evil, but we must keep careful watch.  Careful because we must continually remind ourselves that life is short and that we’ll only be punishing ourselves if we allow our lives to slip from our grasp when we had the chance to live it to the full.  Believe me, you’ll have plenty of time to sleep once you’re six feet deep.

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The Battle between Reason and Passion

The Rafael painting (on the left) of Greek philosophers Plato (pointing up towards the sky) and his pupil, Aristotle (palm facing down towards the ground) seemingly depicts them debating what should govern Man’s affairs: either Plato’s heavenly passion of the Gods, or Aristotle’s earthly reason of science.

This battle of wise minds serves as an example that begins this post with an apparent conflict between reason and passion, as I ask the question to myself as to which of the two should be used towards benefiting us personally and society as a whole?

Philosophy, and Stoicism in particular, can be accused of being, at most part, emotionally cold and distant because of it’s aim for us to invoke the use of reason to override all human emotions.  The elements of passion and reason have been opposing forces ever since the very beginnings of philosophy.

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It’s my baby boy’s first birthday today and it serves to remind me that time does really pass in the blink of an eye.

It’s already been a year since I’ve had to dig deep into the recesses of my mind and soul to drag out something called “Philosophy” to help me through the difficulties of fatherhood.

But to be honest with you, it’s got a bit easier since then – Why, you may well ask?  Here’s why:

• father and son have at last bonded (so mummy won’t get too much of a look in from now on)
• son makes me laugh all the time (there’s nothing better than laughter to ease the stresses of life away)
• son has taught me so much wisdom about myself and life (so forget Socrates and the like – they’ve got nothing on my boy)
• son has given me the inspiration to write posts (as for the creation of this blog, I blame a man called Mr Blobby)
• son has hired me to be his Football Coach for the next 17 years (which I’m happy to do for a small fee from his weekly pocket money)
• son will be making his debut for Liverpool Football Club in 17 years (something I was hoping to do myself many moons ago)

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